The University at Stony Brook offers 20 intercollegiate varsity sports, 10 for men and 10 for women competing within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), the Northeast Conference (NEC) the ECAC Lacrosse League and local conferences for various sports. In July of 1993, Stony Brook initiated a process of complying with NCAA Division II regulations that will ultimately take its entire athletic program to the NCAA Division I level. On June 3, 1997, University President Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny announced that Stony Brook will elevate its entire intercollegiate athletic program to the Division I level in the 1999-2000 academic year.

Stony Brook Athletics: The Time is Now
The University at Stony Brook athletic program has taken itself on a long diffucult journey that will finally culminate with its arrival in Division I this fall. The process of arriving in Division I was set forth in 1989 when Stony Brook upgraded its lacrosse and women's soccer programs to Divison I. Stony Brook then continued its push towards a full-fledged Divison I program when the athletic department announced the hiring of Richard Laskowski as the Dean of Athletic Program in March of 1993 and was charged with guiding the athletic department into the Division I level.

On June 3, 1997, University President Shirley Strum Kenny announced that the university will upgrade its entire intercollegiate athletics program to NCAA Division I status, effective in the 1999-2000 academic year. With Stony Brook's goal of arriving in Division I accomplished this Fall, a new task has emerged. The Seawolves will take on hte difficult task of leaving a lasting impression on Division I competition.

Academic Excellence
One of the most important priorities of Stony Brook's athletic program is its dedication to academic excellence. The University has set forth a tradition of academic excellence that the athletic department has used as a blueprint for its athletic teams. In recent years, the women's cross country and men's tennis teams received all-academic team recognition. In addition, 65 Stony Brook athletes were named to the Dean's List and 109 earned a spot on the honor roll. The athletic department is set on achieving success on the field that will only be surpassed by its success in the classroom.

Goals
Success both on the field and off of it have become a staple at Stony Brook and as the University strives to produce a well balanced program. Stony Brook has a clear vision of where it wants to go and that goal is to provide an equal oppurtunity for every athlete in all their endeavors.

Athletic Success
In its short history, Stony Brook has established a tradition of athletic success through the journeys from Division III to Division II. From Final Fours to State Championships, Stony Brookhas proved to be a winner at every level it has competed at. Just last year, both the volleyball and men's tennis teams took home the NECC Championship and the men's and women's swimming teams won Met Conference Championships. The baseball team achieved unparalleled success, winning the most games in the program's history (33) while going 8-3 against Division I teams. Head Ooach Matt Senk also had one of his former players make his marjor league debut when Joe Nathan was called up to make his first major league start with the San Francisco Giants last May. Stony Brook is ready for the move to Division I and will now turn its attention towards establishing its deep rooted winning tradition in the Division I level.

Competition
Stony Brook will put its history of athletic success on the line against some of the toughest competition in the nation. On the slate for 1999 and 2000 are matchups with the teams like St. John's, Utah, North Carolina, Yale and Princeton among many others. The athletic department at Stony Brook knows that to be the best you have to play the best and the University at Stony Brook will play the best.

Athletes In The Community
Stony Brook student-athletes have a penchant for making a lasting mark in the community. One of the many ways Stony Brook reaches out to the community is with its annual Girls and Women in Sports Day. During the month celebration, Stony Brook holds the Debbie Whittemore Leadership and Crown Trophy Awards ceremony, a banquet that features a special guest speaker and an All-Sports Clinic that is free to the public. The Seawolves have also participated in such community events as Read Across America, benefits for the Carol Baldwin Brest Cancer Research Center and a walk for the March of Dimes amongst many others.